“And it would be a competition.” They both said it at the exact same time, which made them laugh.
“Because everything always was,” she said, searching his expression. There seemed to be something he wasn’t saying.
“Yeah.” A lazy grin spread to his lips. His gaze touched her a second too long.
It was so quick that she almost wasn’t sure it happened.
“Except over you,” he said. “We never competed over you.” His brow arched.
Is he flirting? The realization sent her mind reeling.
“This is hard work,” Hailey called out, breaking the moment.
Paul jogged over to help Hailey. “Your arms are getting tired. Let’s give Jesse a turn to fly it for a little while.” He grabbed the line and did a few tricks with the kite.
Hailey let go and dropped her arms to her sides. “Exhausting.”
“Come over here, you.” Amanda held her arms out. “Was it fun?”
“Yes. So much fun.”
Amanda rubbed Hailey’s arms.
“Very hard work, though,” her daughter added.
“You got it, Jesse. There you go.” Paul sat in the sand with Jesse standing in front of him. “You’re rocking it.” Paul reached up and tugged the string, making the kite dip in the sky, then pop up even higher. They shouted hooray so loud that Hailey raced over to be part of the excitement.
While Amanda unpacked lunch, she watched Paul pull in the kite and fold it down.
He and the kids walked over still all abuzz about the kite antics.
“That was so much fun!” Amanda said to Paul. “An amazing time. Thank you.”
“I’m glad I happened to see it in the store window. It was cooler than I remembered.”
“It’s hard to come up with new and different things to do with the kids every day. This is great.”
“I’d like to do it again one afternoon.”
“Sure. They really enjoyed it. They’d love that,” she said.
“What about you?” He sat down next to her on the sheet. “Would you love it?”
The way his eyes were fixed on her made her heart pick up its pace. Joking, she said, “I’d probably like it more if you’d just come fix the toilet that won’t quit running.”
He laughed, then with a straight face asked, “You’re not serious about the toilet?”
“Oh yeah. It runs and runs and runs. But not continually. No, it happens on its own merry timeline so that it wakes me up. Scares me every time.” She picked up some sand and swirled it in her palm. “No big deal. If that’s my biggest problem, I can deal with it.”
“I can fix the toilet.”
“I wasn’t really asking you to fix it.” She shrugged. “I was kidding around.”
“I know that, but it’s usually an easy fix. It could be the twist of a screw or a twenty-dollar part and save you more than that on your water bill. At least let me look at it. If it’s a bigger problem, then you’ll know what you’re facing.”
She hesitated. Why am I making this a big deal? Just say thank you and let him do it. “Fine. Take a look, but don’t do anything.”
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you,” she said. “I appreciate it. Really.”
“No problem. I’m just that kind of guy, or have you forgotten?”
It was true. Between him and Jack, he’d been the handier one. Whenever there was something to fix, Jack waited until Paul could come over and help with it. “I guess I had kind of forgotten that. Well, then at least let me fix you dinner.”
“I’d love that. You always were a great cook.”
“You remember?”
“How could I forget? Your meat loaf and mashed potatoes are still in my dreams.”
“Comfort food.”
“Yeah. And what was the thing you did with chicken nuggets and sesame seeds? Do you still remember how to make that?”
“Yep. It’s the kids’ favorite, but I don’t make it that often, even though it’s easy.”
“And stuffed wontons. You’d make that dipping sauce for them.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Okay, now I’m starving.”
She reached in her cooler and handed him a PB&J.
“No.” He pushed it back toward her. “I’m fine. Besides, the kids will be hungry.”
“Eat it. We can walk over the hill for more provisions. You look fit enough to make it.”
He snagged the sandwich and took a bite, then handed her the other half.
“Thanks.” They ate in silence and watched Hailey and Jesse play. They’d come over and inhaled a sandwich between them so they could hurry back to what they were doing.
It was nice to have company and not feel like she had to fill every second with conversation. It was even nicer that it was with Paul. She’d missed him, but in an odd way like he had to be gone, too, because Jack was. It was strange having half the duo. She snuck a glance his direction. He and Jack looked less similar than she’d remembered. Paul’s face was less angular than Jack’s.
Paul pushed his sunglasses on top of his head and lay back, propped on his elbows. “It’s peaceful out here.”
“It is. I feel like I can breathe easier.” She turned and looked at him as he rested there with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun. “You’re welcome to join us anytime. Or don’t join us. Just come out here.”
“Be careful what you ask for. I might be here every day.”
Strangely flattered, she peeked at him again, watching him relax. “I can think of worse problems.”
His eyes opened and he sat up. Something passed between them, and then—thank goodness—he made a joke. “Like that running toilet.”
“Even that.” She drank in the comfort of his familiarness.
“Mom!” Hailey skidded to a stop in front of her, holding her hand as if she were in agony.
“It was an accident,” Jesse insisted. “I didn’t mean to step on her hand.”
“Let me see,” Amanda said, taking her daughter’s hand into her own. And like that the moment was gone. “You’re fine, sweetie. It was an accident.”
She turned to Paul. “I think someone’s tuckered out,” she whispered as she stood and started gathering things to leave.
Tired and sweaty, they all walked
